House Passes Illegal Police Entry Bill

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – A bill seeking to strengthen Hoosier homeowners’ rights to fend off police illegally entering their home has passed the Indiana House.

The House voted 74-24 Thursday to pass Senate Bill, legislation specifying that residents are protected by the state’s self-defense law.

The bill was filed as a response to last year’s state Supreme Court ruling that residents could not resist officers even during an illegal entry.

Rep. Jud McMillin (R-Brookville) filed an amendment to the bill which was adopted.

The amendment to the bill reads “A person is justified in using reasonable force against any law enforcement officer if the person reasonably believes the force is necessary to protect the person or a third person from what the person reasonably believes to be the imminent use of unlawful force.”

“Not only have we restored the law, but we have made it better. We have defined how a person can lawfully protect their home and have put additional safeguards in place to protect police,” McMillin said.

The bill now heads back to the Senate where it had passed earlier this legislative session 45-5. The two chambers must still agree on a final version of the bill before it can go to Governor Mitch Daniels for signature into law.